August is a wonderful month to travel through the pages of a great book, and this month’s selections take us on quite a journey. We move from the elegant art world of Belle Époque, France, to the intrigue of an international kidnapping, then escape to a crumbling villa in the Tuscan countryside, travel the roads of Sicily, and finally step back into the turbulent streets of 1870 Los Angeles. This August reading list offers five compelling reasons to find a comfortable chair and keep turning pages. Enjoy!
THE RENOIR GIRLS by Catherine Ostler ~ Art History
The Renoir Girls: A Hidden History of Art, War & Betrayal is the true story of Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s most famous painting, “The Pink and The Blue,” and an exploration of the rise and fall of a prominent French Jewish family from the Belle Époque to World War II.
With access to never-before-seen letters, diaries, and personal recollections, it is a tale of privilege almost lost in the memory of a vanished world.
RANSOM by Daniel Silva ~ Crime, Action, and Adventure
Ransom is a sophisticated, international thriller involving the disappearance of the glamorous wife of a British billionaire. What initially appears to be a straightforward kidnapping quickly develops into a much wider and more complicated investigation. More than simply discovering where the wife has gone, it is about the secrets people protect, and the lengths they will go to preserve power, reputation, and wealth.
VILLA COCO by Andrew Sean Greer ~ Literary Fiction
Villa Coco is set in the 1990s in a remote corner of Tuscany, where an aimless young American man takes a job working for an eccentric 92-year-old Baronessa in her crumbling villa. The book is filled with humor, warmth, eccentric characters, and an immersive Italian atmosphere that allows readers to travel to Italy without the crowds and enjoy a delightful, magical experience.
BEGINNING MIDDLE END: A Novel by Valeria Luiselli ~ Fiction
Beginning Middle End follows a mother and her 12-year-old daughter on a road trip traveling through Sicily. They cross paths with the island’s migrants, storekeepers, and elders, and also its volcanoes, its winds, and its waters. The novel weaves together archaeology, mythology, and the natural world. This is a beautiful story of two women connecting and learning about each other and themselves.
DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND THE MOON by Lisa See Historical Fiction
Set in 1870 Los Angeles, Daughters of the Sun and Moon follows three Chinese women whose lives are shaped by poverty, violence, and the harsh reality of hostility and discrimination. All the women are from different classes and backgrounds, but somehow they manage to form a connection. How these three characters survive, save each other, and move on with their lives is a beautiful portrait of strength, solidarity, and love.
Conclusion
What makes this month’s reading list especially appealing is the variety of worlds waiting to be discovered. Art and history intertwine with family secrets; Italy provides the backdrop for humor, reflection, and human connection; an international mystery reminds us that wealth and privilege often conceal complicated truths; and courageous women demonstrate the extraordinary strength that can emerge from friendship and adversity. Wherever the final weeks of summer find you, Sandy’s August Selections offer the perfect opportunity to travel somewhere fascinating without ever leaving your favorite chair.
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